Door holding device



Jan. 9, R H HUMMERT 1,942,860

DOOR HOLDING DEVICE Filed Feb. 15, 1932 INVENTOR yw i d. I

w ATTORNEY Fatented Jan. 9, 1934.-

DODR HQLDKNG DEVICE Robert H. Hummert, Ziiayton, Ohio, assignor to The S. E. Thomson Manufacturing Company, Dayton, Side, a corporation of @hio dppiication February 15, 1932.

1 Ciaim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in door holding devices.

It is the principal object oi my invention to provide for the purpose or" holding a hinged door open against forces such as gusts of wind and gravity, a simple and efficient device which may be disengaged by giving the door a sharp pull to permit it to be closed.

My door holding device is particularly adapted for use on hearses and ambulances, where it is necessary to hold a rear or side door open while a corpse or sick person is being placed within or removed from the same.

Doors on such vehicles when held open by devices which require the pressure of a button or the hand operation of some other element to release, are often closed by an inexperienced person who does not perform this previous hand release operation, with the result that the hinges of the door are not infrequently broken. But when my device is employed, there is no other operation required than a sharp pull or push on the door itself to close it.

Other important and infidental objects will be brought out in the following specification particularly set forth in the subjoined claim.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention, Figure l is a perspective View of the rear portion or an automobile hearse or ambulance, showing my holding device applied to the door thereof. Figure 2 a sectional View taken through the head or the door, showing my holding device applied thereto. 3 is a 'iew or" my door holding device w--en in its open position. And Figure i is a cross sectional view ELK-2X1 through the same when door is closed.

Referring to the ace npanying drawing, my door holding device preferably comprises a long, flat, metallic member 1 formed with an elongated key hole slot 2. Between this slot and one edge of the member 1 containing it, there a row or screw holes 3 which, together with similar screw holes at each end of said member, receive screws 4 for the purpose of firmly securing it t the under surface of the top portion of a door frame such as the door frame 5 of an automobile body 6. In the present instance the body is that of a hearse or ambulance having a rear door '7 hinged to said frame, although my door holding device may be applied with equal facility to a side door.

My door holding device also includes a metal link 8 having secured to one end thereof a stud 9 adapted to freely project through the slot 2 44-. Lil";

Serial No. 592,881

in the member 1, and having a conical head 10 of sufiicient width to bridge the slot on the opposite side of the link. At its outer end the link 8 is pivotally secured by a screw 11 to a substantially rectangular plate 12, save that in this instance it has two outer tapered corners.

Formed in the plate 12 is a number of screw holes, in this instance four, to receive screws 13 for the purpose of securely attaching it to the top of the frame of a door such as the automobile door 7 in Figure 1.

For the purpose of frictionally engaging the conical top 10 of the stud 9, to hold the latter at the end of the slot 2 which is nearest the door 7, and thus maintain the door in an open position, 1 have secured to the portion or the member 1 adjacent that end of the slot, a gripping member 14 formed of spring metal. The latter has a flat which is secured by such means as rivets 15 to the member 1, and has an arched outer end 16 with a reversely curved tip 17.

The latter is free to be raised by the conical top of the stud 9 a sufficient distance to permit it to pass to a position under the arched portion 15 said gripping member. Here the stud will be firmly held until withdrawn by a sharp pull or push upon the door.

It is thus seen that when my holding device is applied to the door and frame of a vehicle or other structure, the stud 9 will be in the curved head portion of the keyhole slot 2 of the member 1, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, while the door is closed. When the door is opened, the stud will be drawn through the slot by the link 8 until the conical head of the stud engages and passes under the free end of the gripping member 14. By the latter it will be firmly held to maintain the door in an open position against gravity, wind gusts or other for es, until it is desired to close the door, whereupon it is only necessary to give it a sharp pull or push to withdraw the stud from the gripping member. No other operation is required to close the door, thus putting it within the power of an inexperienced person to close it without the hinges through failure to push a button or perform some other prior mechanical act.

When it is desired to hold the door in one or more intermediate positions, additional gripping members can be conveniently located along the member 1 at any desired point or points. In Figure 3, I have shown an additional gripping member 16 projecting transversely across the slot 2 and located on the member 1 midway bedoor, a projection on the other end of the link free to travel through said slot, a conical head on said projection adapted to bridge said slot, a gripping member projecting transversely across the slot between the ends thereof, and reverse curved spring side projections on said gripping member to offer a minimum resistance to the passing of the conical head of the link projection in either direction, while retaining suflicient spring action to hold it in an intermediate position when desired.

ROBERT H. HUMMERT. 

